Considering the creation of a continental African database

On Monday, May 13, 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and International Trade, Maneesh Gobin, held a meeting with a team of consultants, including representatives from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Attendees included Souleymane Abdallah, Economic Affairs Officer of UNECA’s African Trade Policy Centre, and Wael Gameledin, Senior Consultant.

As part of the African Continental Free Trade Area initiative, the visit aimed to discuss the creation of a continental African database focusing on the textile industry’s raw materials and production elements. The countries involved in this program include Kenya, Cameroon, Egypt, Lesotho, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, and South Africa.

The primary goal of the information collection is to establish a comprehensive database on the supply of raw materials, such as cotton, and the production capacities related to the textile and apparel sector. Souleymane Abdallah emphasized the importance of preparing a study report that will clearly outline the possibilities for developing and enhancing Africa’s textile and apparel value chains.

These initiatives aim to highlight the potential and opportunities in Mauritius’s textile sector. They will also facilitate trade exchanges with other African countries by providing detailed information on the supply of raw materials.